A full-fledged United Nations mission is desperately needed in Haiti to stop the escalating violence being carried out by heavily armed allied criminal groups that have been launching coordinated attacks on the population and critical infrastructure. The country’s crisis has reached catastrophic proportions. As Haitians continue to navigate a new crisis, the watchdog group, which has previously approached such a deployment cautiously due to Haiti’s history of unsuccessful U.N. interventions, is now joining those who are hoping the U.N. will find a solution to the growing gang violence that is quickly spreading fear and hunger: In communities in the north and south of the country, where many had fled to avoid the gangs in Port-au-Prince, days of intense rain caused flooding and mudslides last week.
Balancing support with oversight
U.N. humanitarian agencies warned last week that the natural disaster was adding to an already dire situation in which millions of people nationwide struggle every day to find adequate food, water, and healthcare in the face of closed hospitals and cut-off roads, with over 700,000 already internally displaced by gangs. According to Ida Sawyer, head of crises, conflict, and armaments at Human Rights Watch, “the Haitian people have endured so much and waited so long for a meaningful international response to the crisis.” “The U.N. has the chance to do it right now by approving a robust new U.N. mission that complies with human rights and allocating the required funds so it can efficiently collaborate with the Haitian people to restore security and guarantee access to essentials. Haiti is dealing with a serious constitutional problem in addition to a security one. Armed gangs remain a serious concern even after the country’s most recent presidential election was held in 2016, despite pressure from the United States and other countries to prepare for new elections. A briefing paper on Haiti’s security situation that the transitional government, the armed Multinational Security Support Mission, and the Haiti National Police all established in March with assistance from the Caribbean Community, the United States, and others has not performed up to par.
Key recommendations for success
According to the research, many police officers are connected to criminal organizations or have been implicated in grave violations of human rights, and the police are understaffed and underequipped. Additionally, the transitional government “has fallen short in taking meaningful steps to restore the rule of law, root out corruption, or plan for the organization of credible elections.” Last month, it appointed Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as prime minister after dismissing longtime U.N. civil servant Garry Conille after less than six months in office. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission commanded by Kenya, which had given hope when it was deployed in late June, has likewise failed to stop the gangs. It pointed to the government’s inability to supply the mission with the funding to enable it to function completely. The mission also recruits security professionals from Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. According to Haitians, “millions of people struggle to find food, water, and health care, and the fear of attacks by criminal groups has taken over their daily lives,” Sawyer said. “The Haitian people could have a real chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope if a new, full-fledged U.N. mission upholds human rights and builds on the original UN efforts.”
Addressing Human Rights Concerns
The United States has contributed more than $300 million in funding, armored vehicles, a base of operations, and other support to the Kenya-led expedition, making it the greatest contributor to date. However, it hasn’t been sufficient. The fact that a U.N. Trust Fund has only accumulated $97.4 million further impairs its capacity to function effectively or completely. In a report by the news agency Reuters, Kenya Force Commander Godfrey Otunge denied allegations that 20 police officers in the operation had resigned due to bad working conditions in Haiti and a pay delay for Kenyan troops. Officers are still “highly motivated and fully committed to supporting the Haitian national police” in their activities, according to Otunge, who also referred to the resignations of members as “inaccurate and malicious.”
UN’s Role in Stabilizing Haiti
However, the mission’s resource and financing issues have been well-documented, and as a result, it is still in its pre-deployment phase with only 416 of the 2,500 security people it was intended to have. As a result, the Biden administration is advocating for its conversion into a formal U.N. peacekeeping operation. Many Latin American nations favor the concept, and the 15-member Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, has endorsed it as well.
